Tech Block® FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to use Tech Blocks?
The cost for our blocks is $32.00 each. If you are figuring how many blocks you need for a particular installation, you can figure the exterior square footage somewhat net, that is, you can subtract out the door and window openings from the gross square footage of a given design. If you then take the net square footage and divide by 5.33, which is the square footage of our blocks, you arrive at a close approximation of the block count. Add to this delivery costs, which we will figure for you, engineering costs, if any, and tax.
It is important to remember, though, that the real cost of these wall systems is the installed cost , and if a block like ours has a lot built into it and has a design that doesn't waste concrete, the initial cost of the blocks may be higher than other's costs, but the final cost will be less.
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How does Tech Block's cost compare to current methods of construction?
Wall systems are priced by the square foot of wall, not the square footage of the building being erected. In order to have a fair comparison, it is assumed that any walls being compared are completed to the stage where they are ready for other trades, usually rough plumbing and/or electrical, then drywall, on the inside, and stucco or some masonry-based product like cultured stone on the outside. Our installed price is about $2.00 per square foot more than the usual 2 x 6 wood stud wall, and is about even with masonry CMU block construction.
Differences: We have twice the insulation and none of the fire and termite problems that wood walls have, and we have about seven times the insulation that block walls have. These are important advantages because they result in continuous and everlasting savings in reduced energy and maintenance costs. It should also be noted that the above comparisons don't take into consideration the tremendous cost savings that can be attained by using our blocks for stem walls. (WetSet Method). If an enhancement to your home adds $20 to your monthly mortgage payment but saves you $200 on your monthly energy bill, wouldn't you be crazy not to want it?
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Is Tech Block environmentally friendly?
Yes! Tech Block is one of the most environmentally friendly exterior wall systems available. Not only do Tech Block walls reduce the energy needed to heat and cool buildings, but the basic ingredients of the blocks (cement, polystyrene, and OSB) are each environmentally friendly in their own right. Cement comes from limestone, and has long been accepted as a clean, non-polluting building material. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is an essentially inert material, the manufacture of which uses no CFCs or HCFCs. The EPS used in Tech Block is reclaimed from other manufacturing processes. Because it is not biodegradable and doesn't break down unless exposed to sunlight, the use of EPS in Tech Block saves the landfill space that would be needed to contain this long lasting material.
OSB is made from wood left over from the making of framing lumber. When a mill uses the scrap wood left over from the milling of trees for framing lumber to make OSB, it can double the yield from those trees.This is not only a more efficient use of wood, but because of the superior strength of OSB compared to standard plywood and dimensional lumber, this can actually reduce the amount of material needed to build a given structure.
Our best scientists have been telling us that the damage we are doing to our environment has the potential of becoming a catastrophe on a scale that can only be exceeded by a nuclear winter. In the final analysis it is the responsibility of each individual to help avert such an outcome. Building with Tech Block will have positive impact on the environment, and we hope this will be a factor when you choose exterior wall system for your project.
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How well is the OSB attached to the blocks?
The oriented strand board (OSB) layer is attached to the blocks with 9 tons of bonding force. It provides an attachment layer on the interior surface of our walls to support drywall, but, since it is 5/8" OSB, which is essentially flooring, it is strong enough to act as backing under the drywall for cabinetry, drape hardware, shelving, base, casing, towel racks, etc.
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How much does a block weigh?
A regular Tech Block weighs about 70 pounds, and our corner and header blocks weigh about 60 pounds.
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Are the blocks glued together?
No. Tech Blocks are dry stacked.However, once the concrete grout is pumped into the vertical and horizontal channels formed by the blocks, the blocks become tightly bonded together. It should be noted that where there is a seam between blocks that is visible from either side, there is a grout channel behind the seam. This completely eliminates air infiltration through the wall.
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Is it feasible to use Tech Block in other countries?
The technology we use to produce Tech Blocks is quite transferable to other locales and we are open to both new domestic and international business relationships. These relationships would take the legal shape of either joint ventures or licensing agreements. Protection from competition would be afforded by sales area exclusivity and/or by our patents. Interested parties may contact us at our headquarters in Denver, Colorado.
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How much concrete is used in a Tech Block wall?
One of the advantages of the Tech Block design is the efficient use of concrete. It takes approximately 1 yard of concrete to fill the horizontal and vertical channels in 35 Tech Blocks (about 0.03 yds/block), or about 1 yard/175 sq. ft. of wall. This is an approximate figure as corner blocks use a little less concrete than regular blocks, and header blocks use a little more.
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How are electrical wiring and plumbing run?
Tech Blocks are very easy to cut using standard wood cutting tools. Typically, for electrical wiring a horizontal channel is cut into the interior wall surface (OSB side) an inch or two above or below a horizontal block seam. This way the block seam acts as the other cut. The cut is usually made using a circular saw with the blade set to penetrate about an inch, and after making the cut a claw hammer can be used to pop the piece of OSB off the block. Electrical wiring can then be placed in the resulting channel.The channel should be covered with a strip of 18 gauge steel to prevent drywall screw penetration of the wiring.
Plumbing chases can be run similarly to electrical wiring. Since plumbing pipe will usually require a larger channel to be cut into the blocks, the circular saw blade should be set to penetrate deeper. The block material behind the OSB can be easily removed using a claw hammer, chain saw, etc. Between each 6" vertical grout channel there is an 18" space that is 3-5/8" deep that can be removed to accommodate vertical pipe runs. It is also easy to run pipe from exterior to interior directly through the blocks and in between the grout channels.
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